128 THE POETUGUESE POLICY IN" THE EAST of refinement in dealing with the more powerful rajas of the Indian coast and Eastern Archipelago. The treaties leave more or less to the native rulers the juris- diction over their own subjects. While insisting strongly on the privileges of native Christians, and placing them under the jurisdiction of the Portuguese fort, they generally respect the rights of the professors of other faiths. The treaty with the warlike King of Gujarat, in 1534, guaranteed the revenues of the Bas- sein mosques, " and what preaching should take place in them," from " any innovation whatever." In the Moluccas the viceroy agreed, in 1539, that " no Portu- guese should enter into the mosques of the Moors; and on his entering and doing evil things, he shall be appre- hended by the Moors or by the Christians and delivered up at the fortress, for me to punish according to his fault. Forasmuch as I think it to the service of the King my Lord that the mosques be guarded against the Portuguese and be as honoured as are our own churches." In at least one case, according to a contract with the King of Gujarat, October 25, 1535, conversions were forbidden on either side, but were often provided for on the side of the Christians. Some protection was even attempted for the pagodas or temples of the Hin- dus, as is shown by a contract with Mealecao (Malik Khan), dated April 24, 1555; and the contract of 1520 provided against the killing of cows in the Quilon State. I have dwelt on the treaty-aspects of the Portuguese policy in the East, not merely because they illustrate the actual dealings of Portugal with Asiatic states, but
